have you read the July issue of Rolling Stone?

**trax** · 07-07-2009, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by 2dumb2kwit

Sorry for not being clear. I was refering to the polititions, that Ken spoke of.

Well, if there was something to get your knickers in a knot over, that'd be it. Isn't the idea of a free market that politicians don't interfere? Cuz up here, that's all we have (politicians interfering I mean, not a free market) Just wondering, I'm kind of naive about this stuff.

**Rick** · 07-07-2009, 06:24 PM

In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.

- Autobiography of Mark Twain

**Ken** · 07-07-2009, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Look. You can't point your finger at any one corporation and say all the ills of the world fall on their shoulders. It just doesn't work that way. Wish it did, it would be very convenient but it doesn't........

If you feel good blaming them then blame them. Just watch your other pocket while you keep you good eye on them. 'Cause some else will be sliding their hand in your pocket while you watch.

Rick, I generally agree with your post. However, the one thing that changes the entire picture today is government bailouts. It's the GOVERNMENT that has it's hands in our pockets. We can choose to not invest or do business with a corporation. However, the government is now forcing each and everyone of us to bail out those same corporations that people like me have avoided like the plague for the last 10 years.

I agree that common sense precludes buying far too large of a house and way too much on credit cards. Common sense also precludes people from investing without diversifiation and investing in highly speculative stocks, etc. Anyone even remotely attuned to the economy over the last several years, anyone who understood that tremendous credit was being extended to people who clearly did not have the means to repay such debt, knew that the bubble would burst some time soon. If it's too good to be true, it's not safe. I learned that in Economics 101.

My money was withdrawn from the market years ago. Some folks laughed at my government bonds and government insured CDs. Heck, THEY were earning double digits when I was earning between 3% and 7%.

I was cautious and settled for a small return instead of a big score that simply defied logic. Most equity investment vehicles in the last decade were clearly a high risk game.

I resent having to contribute a single dime to bail out any investor or corporation who rode the gravy train off a cliff. When you invest in ANYTHING you do so at your own risk. Higher returns usually involve greater risk. You lose, tough sh!t. Nobody, no corporation or individual, shared their substantial profits with me, so why should I now share in their losses?

**Rick** · 07-07-2009, 06:33 PM

You'll get no argument from me on the bail outs. I went on record early on stating if the incentives were used to put people to work then it would be beneficial but not as a free ride to corporations.

Even at that, I wouldn't have been overly miffed if there had been some reasonable oversight in place. What occurred was a pretty bad joke on the taxpayer.

**2dumb2kwit** · 07-07-2009, 06:55 PM

OK....we agree.....but if we don't stop talking about gov't bailouts, I'll be forced to close this thread, for talking politics!

**Sourdough** · 07-07-2009, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by 2dumb2kwit

OK....we agree.....but if we don't stop talking about gov't bailouts, I'll be forced to close this thread, for talking politics!

Economic Theory: The constant velocity of money and a societies maximum capacity to consume.....

**Rick** · 07-07-2009, 08:11 PM

The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

Ronald Reagan

**2dumb2kwit** · 07-08-2009, 11:58 AM

What do ya say, we lighten up and listen to some music. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yKdGWXTUG4

**trax** · 07-08-2009, 12:37 PM

Good choice of tuneage 2d2k. Nicely done.

**bulrush** · 07-09-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Ken

It's the GOVERNMENT that has it's hands in our pockets. We can choose to not invest or do business with a corporation. However, the government is now forcing each and everyone of us to bail out those same corporations that people like me have avoided like the plague for the last 10 years.

Well said. I don't want to bail out those companies, because it encourages more corruption and cheating. But the gov't still uses my money to do so.

I agree that common sense precludes buying far too large of a house and way too much on credit cards.

True. A single house on my street has had 3 owners in 5 years. And 2 of those years the house was vacant. So who's the stupid one, the buyers or the bank?